After graduating from Payson High School last spring, Laura enlisted in the Marine Corps with hopes of someday receiving training in the communications field.

In letters to parents and friends, Laura said one of the lessons boot camp has taught her was good nutrition.

"She didn't realize what a junk-food-aholic she was," her father Louis said.

At Payson High, Laura was a four-year member of the Lady Longhorn softball and basketball teams.

Little League sign up set

Youngsters --ges 7 to 15 years (as of July 31, 2004), --nterested in participating in Payson Little League should sign up at one of four upcoming registrations.

They are:

Jan. 10 -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jan. 14 -- 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Jan. 24 -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jan. 31 -- 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

All sign-ups will be held at the Payson Police Department.

When registering, players should bring a birth certificate. The fee is $40 per player, with a discount available for families who have more than one child participating in the program.

At the registration, officials also will be accepting applications for team managers and coaches.

This season, Payson is scheduled to field teams in four age/ability leagues -- farm, minors, majors and seniors.

Last year, Payson had five farm teams, six in the majors and minors and four in the seniors.

The senior league is made up of players 13 to 15. Youngsters 11 to 12 normally play on the major league teams. The minors is open to players 9 to 12, but most are either 9 or 10. Seven- and 8-year-olds play in the farm league where coaches, rather than players do the pitching.

Any player who was on a major league team last year will return to that team. Players moving up an age/skill league or new to the program must participate in tryouts.

Following the tryouts, minor, major and senior coaches draft players to their teams. The farm league does not draft.

This season, Tracy Purtee will serve as the Little League Chief Umpire.

Little League President Chuck Barton anticipates play will begin in mid-April and continue into June.

For more information, call Barton (468-1711) or Little League vice president Mark Frantzke (474-2746).